This month I hosted my annual Bassetlaw Summer School, bringing together 40 secondary school students from Bassetlaw to offer life-changing opportunities, lift aspirations and explore future career opportunities.
One of my priorities as our Member of Parliament is to raise the aspirations of our young people. Students in Bassetlaw have just as much talent as those growing up in London and other big cities, but they do not always have the same opportunities. I want to open doors for our students so that they have the confidence to aim high as they begin to think about their future careers.
The Summer School began here in Bassetlaw at DHL’s Manton Wood site, a major local business. Students toured the warehouse and saw the new lorries used to move goods across the country. At Clumber Park, they learned about the National Trust and helped with conservation work in the woodland.
The students then travelled to London and toured Parliament, visited the House of Lords and learned about the law and how it is made. A real highlight was visiting Speaker’s House to meet the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. He spoke about his journey into politics and answered intelligent and thoughtful questions from the students about his role in Parliament.
The students also met Kanishka Narayan MP, the Minister for AI and Online Safety. They heard about proposals to protect children online and discussed them with the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC. Later, they visited the top law firm Clifford Chance, where solicitors explained their work and helped the students tackle legal case studies.
At online bank Revolut, the students learned how a small financial technology company grew into a major international business. They worked in teams to design a new banking product. At Amazon’s UK headquarters, they heard about the company’s work and received useful advice on writing a strong CV and making a good first impression.
On the final day, a treasure hunt helped the students explore London and become more confident using public transport. They met Deputy US Ambassador Robert Thomas, who spoke about his career in diplomacy. The programme ended with visits to Downing Street, where I presented the students with their certificates. They also met Rachel Blake MP, who explained her work at the Treasury.
The week showed what can happen when young people are given the chance to step outside their usual surroundings and try something new. It was not just about learning about different careers, but also about building independence, working as a team and discovering their own individual strengths.
I’m extremely grateful to all those who helped educate and inspire these pupils.
I was so impressed with the class of 2026, who were so enthusiastic, excited and motivated. They were superb representatives of their schools and Bassetlaw.